A move to build flats along the A9 is rejected by Highland Council amid concerns about noise and air pollution as 'no way to live'
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A 'simply unbelievable' bid by a housing developer to build three-storey flats right next to the A9 has been rejected by Highland councillors amid concerns that noise and air pollution would be unacceptable.
Springfield Properties wanted to increase the number of residential units from 77 to 90 by building flats alongside the busy dual carriageway running south out of Inverness.
The council’s environmental health officers did not object to the application despite finding that 'satisfactory noise levels can only be achieved with the windows kept closed'.
That immediately prompted concerns from two Inverness South councillors Carolyn Caddick and Andrew Jarvie who felt that this would be unacceptable, with the latter having long spoken against this development.
Councillor Caddick said: “The fact that it's three-storey stretching to 11 metres high right beside the main dual carriageway coming out of Inverness, I'm concerned about the people that are going to be living in this top storey.
“Their windows are going to be overlooking the A9, they're going to get the full noise and the full pollution.
“That is right at the top of the site at the highest point in the site and can be seen by the A9 and the people that are living on the top, are going to get the full force of the A9 dual carriageway.”
Councillor Jarvie said: “To put such a tall building on one of the most prominent parts of the site right next to the A9 and for the solution to that to be for anyone who lives in there, they're not able to open their windows. That's no way to live, honestly.
“When we're talking about building communities and place-making being at the core of our development that surely flies completely in the face of it.”
Councillor Jarvie eventually brought a motion after consulting planning officers on the basis of noise that was accepted by the committee unanimously.
Speaking afterwards he said: “It is simply unbelievable that they wanted to build a three storey flat complex right next to the A9 on Drumossie Braes. The solution to fit the flats with windows that don’t open just to arbitrarily meet noise thresholds which still have not been measured is almost inhumane.
“This area was not allocated for housing, yet the developer sought to push further and squeeze 95 houses in there. Inexplicably, they produced a traffic report which claimed the five extra houses would lead to nearly 15 per cent fewer car journeys.
“I’m glad that, at last, the committee joined my pleas to stand up to this inappropriate over-development which increasingly seems to be about making as much money as possible with little regard for communities or placemaking."